Beer: Reviews & Ratings

Pretty tasty smoked helles, the smoke is never overwhelming. Nose is surprisingly muted, but palate opens up with a bit of hop spice with smoked malts. Solid. I can never find Schlenkerla's lager on shelves, so I don't have a great basis for comparison, but this is one that, at the least, I'd have again. (305 characters)

pours a crisp golden color with a nice head. smell is dominated by pilsner malt and noble hops. taste has a good amount of smoky flavor to it as well as the noble hops. good drinkability if you're a fan of smoke. mild bodied, mild carbonation.

On tap at Sticks and Stones last night.Poured a clear light lemon color with a nice looking lacey white head atop.The smoke is a little subdued but is noticable in the nose,mainly toasted cereal grain and lightly sweet bread dough.Flavors are pretty delicate with the smoke playing a role that enhances the beer but doesn't over power it,grainy and quite dry with just a hint of honey-like sweetness in the finish.A good quaffing beer and pretty food friendly to boot. (468 characters)

Pours a hazy yellow with a foamy white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, smoke, and a slightly funky aroma. Taste is much the same with smoke and funk flavors on the finish. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is an above average beer that tastes somewhat fine but has a pretty bad infected aroma. (485 characters)

Pale golden straw color with a white head. Certainly some smoke, but not overwhelming. Quite fruity with a good ester quality. Light malt aroma of bread and biscuit. Just a bit of citrus in the background. The flavor is nicely sweet with some biscuit malt, fruity esters, and just a general cereal note. Good smokiness with some light yeast and floral hops. Nice and light on the palate, too. (392 characters)

Pours a cloudy dark amber, almost brown, with a thin tan head. A big bready aroma greets the nose with some German yeast and a good amount of campfire smoke. Very good German Dark lager or bock taste with a lingering smoke taste. Medium mouthfeel, but this ain't no lager, which I ultimately found disappointing.

Started out well, but a half a liter was too much. The taste wore on me too much and I didn't even finish it. It seemed like a great concept: a smoked lager. But it wasn't a lager. The taste was muddled and not just with the smoke. Although I won't shy from trying another smoked lager, this one just ain't for me. (672 characters)

A light lager mouthfeel. Pale golden in the pint glass. Nice foam and lacing. Unaccountably smokey flavor, the color is so light I guess I am used to the usual darker Scottish and peaty malts.

A little sharp, and extremely thin bodied. Not a bad quaff if you like smoke. Actually not much flavor other than the smokiness. It would be pretty anemic without the flavoring. Still, for a light beer it's an interesting and quite drinkable flavored brew.

Clear golden yellow with a persistent, thick white head that leaves plenty of lacing down the glass. A gorgeous lager.

The aroma consists of an initial smokiness, along with some Noble hops, a touch of black pepper spice, grass, and bready malt. Complex, strong, yet accessible.

The flavor is dominated by just a touch too much smoke for my liking, though it does add an interesting layer to the beer; I'm sure this would pair particularly well with cheeses and charcuterie. Behind the smoke lies Noble hop flavors, some grass, and a touch of earth, wood, and spice.

Medium bodied. Easy drinking.

An interesting, complex smoked lager. Certainly glad I tried this one. A lot of flavor packed in to an accessible, sessionable package. (774 characters)

Smokescreen came to me in a pint glass looking much lighter than expected given the name. Color is a golden yellow with some haze to the liquid and a nice amount of white stuff on top of the glass. Nice streaks of lace on the way down. Smell is mostly Noble hops with a small amount of citrus and much pilsner malt. Pretty pungent and on par with German types. Taste is noble hops alot of fresh cut grass and small amount of apple. Pilsner malt is apparent towards the end with some biscuit and well, stuff. Feel is less than medium with bubbles and a grassy aftertaste. Smokescreen is extremely refreshing and quaffable and BP should consider putting it in six packs, eff a bomber. (730 characters)

A - Clear golden liquid with plenty of active carbonation bubbles and a foamy bright white cap that reduced to a quarter inch of retention and some spotty lace scattered about the perimeter of the glass.

T - Sweet and smokey with a faint meaty quality and light grassy hop notes to add bitterness. Finishes with a touch of smoke and a grainy toasted malt character.

M - Medium bodied with an oily texture and average carbonation. The smokiness of the beer doesn't inhibit its crispness either. Finishes with only a hint of bitterness and plenty of residual sweetness on the palate.

D - Really refreshing Helles with a pleasant smokey character. Smoke Screen is a drinkable, approachable smoked beer and would be a good starting point for those interested in entering smokey territory. (995 characters)

S: Smoke and a prominent noble hop profile. Hops are herbal and grassy, and the smoke is redolent of beachwood and doesn't dominate. Pils malt is bready and crackery.

T: Pils malt imparts grainy and bready notes. Noble hop character is fresh and expressive, with notes of grass and a moderate bitterness. Lightly spicy. The beer is very clean. Smoked profile is reminiscent of beachwood but it's nicely integrated and not dominating. The finish is crisp and clean, and showcases the noble hops and the smoke.

M: Light in body with an upper moderate level of carbonation. Mouthfeel is dry, crisp, and sticky.

Overall: An excellent Helles with a nice smoke profile. This is very clean, and pretty damn delicious. Great stuff. (832 characters)